Health & Safety Policy

Domiter Building Solutions is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone who may be affected by our work, including employees, subcontractors, contractors, clients, visitors, members of the public and other trades on site.

We aim to provide and maintain safe systems of work, safe equipment, suitable information, instruction and supervision, and safe working environments so far as reasonably practicable.

Our health and safety aims are to:

• Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health.
• Identify hazards and control risks before work starts.
• Comply with applicable UK health and safety legislation and site requirements.
• Provide safe systems of work for construction, refurbishment, groundworks and related services.
• Ensure workers are competent for the tasks they carry out.
• Communicate relevant health and safety information clearly.
• Maintain equipment, tools and PPE in suitable condition.
• Review and improve our health and safety arrangements where needed.

This policy applies to work carried out by Domiter Building Solutions, including work delivered directly by us and work supported by contractors or subcontractors acting on our behalf.

It applies to activities including but not limited to:

Where a client, principal contractor or site manager has additional health and safety requirements, site rules or induction procedures, workers must follow those requirements unless they conflict with legal duties or create unsafe conditions.

Health and safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone involved in a project must cooperate, follow safe systems of work and report unsafe conditions.

Domiter Building Solutions will maintain practical health and safety arrangements suitable for the nature and scale of our work.

Our general arrangements include:

• Planning work before starting on site.
• Reviewing project information, site conditions and known hazards.
• Preparing risk assessments and method statements where required.
• Briefing workers on key risks and controls.
• Using suitable tools, equipment, plant and PPE.
• Maintaining good housekeeping and safe access routes.
• Managing waste, dust, noise, substances and manual handling risks.
• Cooperating with clients, contractors and other trades.
• Reporting incidents, near misses and unsafe conditions.
• Reviewing arrangements after incidents, changes or new risks.

Risk assessments are used to identify hazards, decide who could be harmed, evaluate risks and confirm suitable control measures. HSE explains that employers must make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and others, and take action to eliminate hazards or control risks where elimination is not possible.

Our risk assessment process considers:

• The task or activity being carried out.
• The site environment and surrounding areas.
• Who may be harmed, including workers, clients, visitors, other trades and the public.
• The likelihood and severity of harm.
• Existing controls already in place.
• Further controls required before work starts.
• Emergency arrangements and communication requirements.
• Review requirements where conditions change.

RAMS may be prepared where the work activity, site, client requirement or level of risk requires a documented safe system of work.

RAMS may include:

Workers must be briefed on relevant RAMS before starting work and must follow the agreed method unless the work conditions change. If conditions change, work should stop and the RAMS should be reviewed.

Workers must be competent for the tasks they perform. Competence may be based on training, instruction, experience, qualifications, supervision and practical knowledge of the work activity.

We may provide or require:

• Site induction or client induction.
• Task briefing or toolbox talk.
• RAMS briefing.
• Manual handling awareness.
• Working at height awareness where relevant.
• Asbestos awareness where required by project risk.
• COSHH awareness for hazardous substances.
• Plant, tool or equipment-specific training where required.
• First aid and emergency information.

Subcontractors are expected to ensure that their workers are competent, properly briefed and suitable for the work they undertake.

PPE will be provided, selected or required where risks cannot be adequately controlled by other means. PPE must be suitable for the task, worn correctly and kept in good condition.

PPE is not a substitute for good planning, safe methods and risk reduction. It is used as part of a wider system of controls.

Tools, plant and equipment must be suitable for the task, used correctly and kept in safe condition.

• Equipment must be visually checked before use.
• Defective tools must be taken out of use and reported.
• Only competent persons may use powered tools, plant or specialist equipment.
• Guards, safety devices and control measures must not be removed or bypassed.
• Electrical tools should be suitable for site use and inspected where required.
• Plant and access equipment must be operated according to instructions and site rules.
• Tools must be stored safely to prevent trips, damage or unauthorised use.

Work at height will be avoided where reasonably practicable. Where work at height cannot be avoided, it must be planned, supervised and carried out using suitable access equipment and controls.

Controls may include:

• Using suitable ladders, steps, towers, platforms or MEWPs where required.
• Checking access equipment before use.
• Ensuring workers are competent to use access equipment.
• Maintaining three points of contact on ladders where applicable.
• Avoiding overreaching and unstable working positions.
• Keeping work areas below clear or controlled where falling objects may be a risk.
• Not using unsafe makeshift access arrangements.

Manual handling risks will be considered before lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or moving materials, tools, waste or equipment.

We aim to reduce manual handling risks by:

• Avoiding unnecessary manual handling where possible.
• Using mechanical aids, trolleys or team lifts where appropriate.
• Breaking loads down into smaller, manageable weights where possible.
• Planning routes before moving loads.
• Keeping walkways clear and well lit.
• Using correct lifting technique and avoiding twisting under load.
• Asking for help where loads are heavy, awkward or unstable.

Some work may involve paints, adhesives, solvents, cleaning products, cement, dust, spray mist or other substances that could present health risks.

Controls may include:

• Reviewing product labels and safety data sheets where required.
• Using safer products where practical.
• Providing ventilation for fumes, vapours or spray activities.
• Using dust suppression or extraction where suitable.
• Using appropriate gloves, eye protection and respiratory protection.
• Storing chemicals safely and away from ignition sources where applicable.
• Preventing unauthorised access to hazardous substances.
• Disposing of waste substances responsibly.

Good housekeeping reduces slips, trips, falls, fire risks, blocked access routes and general site hazards.

Workers are expected to:

• Keep work areas tidy and organised.
• Remove waste and debris at suitable intervals.
• Keep access routes, emergency exits and walkways clear.
• Store tools, materials and cables safely.
• Clean spillages promptly or report them where immediate cleaning is not possible.
• Segregate waste where required.
• Use suitable waste containers, skips or disposal arrangements.

Emergency arrangements will depend on the work location, site rules and project risks. Workers must be aware of what to do in an emergency.

Accidents, incidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and damage must be reported as soon as reasonably possible.

Reports may include:

• Date, time and location of the incident.
• Names of people involved or witnesses.
• Description of what happened.
• Immediate action taken.
• Photos or evidence where appropriate.
• Any injuries, property damage or environmental impact.
• Recommended actions to prevent recurrence.

Where required by law, certain incidents may need to be reported under RIDDOR or other applicable reporting requirements.

This Health & Safety Policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where required.

Reviews may take place:

• At least annually.
• After an accident, incident or near miss.
• When there are significant changes to work activities.
• When new equipment, materials or processes are introduced.
• When legal requirements or client requirements change.
• When monitoring identifies that controls are not effective.